Humanities and history

The City of London boasts a unique and prestigious history dating back to Roman London.

Our courses are designed to cover what life was really like on the edge of an empire almost 2,000 years ago, exploring the rich archaeological heritage that lies beneath the City of London. Learn more about the City and its development as a Norman and medieval city, the destruction caused by the Great Fire of London and its emergence as a modern financial capital.

Find out about local government, livery companies or traditions unique to the "Square Mile" vividly brought to life through classroom discussions, visits to seldom seen wonders or through guided walks.

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This course is for those who want to improve their history skills – in particular investigation, interpretation and presentation. Students will apply their knowledge of the City's past in group projects. Visits and class seminars will address aspects of change and development in the City of London during different historical periods. Students will be supported to volunteer with heritage organisations in and around the City and to prepare for more advanced academic study or professional training.

A series of short walks that are perfect for a lunch hour in the City. Each walk covers a slice of the City's history, and you will learn about the long and rich story of the Square Mile, its origins, its rise with the Romans and Normans, its demise through the plague and fire, and its rise again in Georgian, Victorian and modern times.

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Learn more about the long history of the City of London, tracing its place as a Roman stronghold, its development as a Norman and medieval city, its destruction in the Great Fire and its emergence as a modern financial capital. Each term we will study part of the story through a combination of classroom discussion, presentation and walks around the City.

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What is good thinking? What is an argument? Which reasons are acceptable and convincing, and why? This course introduces informal logic in an accessible and fun way. You will learn to distinguish arguments from non-arguments and to confidently analyse even complex pieces of reasoning.

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This course is targeted at adults who are interested in applying to the City of London Guides course starting in September 2018 and who have no previous experience of guiding. The course will give students an opportunity to find out more about guiding and also aims to give participants greater confidence entering the City Guiding course application process.

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Ever wanted to know more about Roman London - to find out what life was really like on the edge of empire almost 2000 years ago. This short course explores the rich archaeological heritage that lies beneath the City of London. Vividly brought to life through classroom talks, visits to seldom seen archaeological remains, trip to the Museum of London that includes a behind the scenes peak at the work of the museum and a walk of Roman London. Taught by a trained archaeologist, this course is aimed at anyone with an interest in archaeology, the Romans and the City of London.

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These courses provide an overview of the City of London and the various stages of its development. Each course consists of a series of walks supplemented by introductory classroom sessions.

The courses are arranged as follows:

Autumn CourseFocuses on the uniqueness of the City, its institutions and government, its role as a financial centre, its architecture and the effect of specific events, such as the Great Fire, on its development.

Spring Course Traces the history of the City from its foundation by the Romans to the present day, looking at the development of the City as an industrial, residential and business area.

Summer Course Shows how the City expanded beyond the Roman City walls eg into surrounding villages like Southwark, Clerkenwell and Spitalfields.

Learners who complete the course could progress on the City of London Guides course in 2018, pending successful application.